Apparatus and method for repairing bone defects

ABSTRACT

A system can include a sizing and drill guide having a body with a bone engaging side, an opposite side and first and second guide holes. The bone engaging side can include a profile for positioning in the trochlear groove and the guide holes can include axes that can be orientated at an acute angle. Retaining members can be positioned in bores formed in the body and can fix the guide to the femur. A cutting device can be guided by the guide holes and can include a bone engaging end having a body and first and second cutting portions. The first cutting portion can have a smaller diameter than the second cutting portion and can be axially spaced apart therefrom so as to form a stepped pocket in the femur. The body can include an outer diameter sized to be complimentary to an inner diameter of the guide holes.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to an apparatus and method forrepairing soft tissue and/or bone defects and, more particularly, to anapparatus and method for repairing cartilage and/or bone defects in aknee joint.

BACKGROUND

This section provides background information related to the presentdisclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

Articular cartilage enables bones to move smoothly relative to oneanother, as is known in the art. Damage to articular cartilage, such asin a knee joint, can be caused by injury, such as tearing, by excessivewear, or by a lifetime of use. Such damage to the articular cartilagecan also cause damage to the underlying bone. The damaged articularcartilage can lead to, in certain circumstances, pain and reducedmobility. Various surgical procedures have been developed to repairdamaged articular cartilage, such as microfracture, mosaicplasty or auni-condyle or partial knee replacement.

While these surgical procedures are effective for their intendedpurpose, there remains a need for improvement in the relevant art fortreating focal defects in articular cartilage in a minimally invasivemanner.

SUMMARY

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not acomprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

In one form, a system for use in repairing a soft tissue or bone defectis provided according to the teachings of the present disclosure. Thesystem can include a combined sizing and drill guide, a retaining memberand a cutting device. The combined sizing and drill guide can be adaptedto be positioned relative to a trochlear groove of a femur. The guidecan include a body having a bone engaging side, an opposite side and candefine first and second guide holes. The bone engaging side can includea profile adapted to be positioned in the trochlear groove and the firstand second guide holes can include respective first and second axes thatcan be orientated at an acute angle relative to each other. Theretaining member can be configured to be positioned in a retaining boreformed in the body, and the retaining members can be adapted toselectively fix the guide to the femur. The cutting device can beconfigured to be selectively guided by the first and second guide holes.The cutting device can include a bone engaging end having a body, afirst cutting portion and a second cutting portion. The first cuttingportion can have a smaller diameter than the second cutting portion andcan be axially spaced apart therefrom so as to be adapted to form astepped pocket in the femur. The body can include an outer diametersized to be complimentary to an inner diameter of the first and secondguide holes.

In another form, a method for repairing a soft tissue or bone defect isprovided according to the teachings of the present disclosure. Themethod can include selecting a combined sizing and drill guide having abone engaging profile sized and shaped to mate with a trochlear grooveof a patient. The combined sizing and drill guide can be selected from aplurality of sizing and drill guides having different bone engaging sideprofiles. The selected guide can be positioned relative to the trochleargroove of the femur. A superior stepped pocket portion can be formed inthe femur by guiding a reaming device relative to a superior guide holein the combined sizing and drill guide, and an inferior stepped pocketportion can be formed in the femur by guiding the reaming devicerelative to an inferior guide hole of the guide. The superior andinferior stepped pocket portions can form a stepped trochlear groovepocket in the femur. A femoral implant can be positioned in thetrochlear groove pocket, where the femoral implant can correspond to theselected combined sizing and drill guide.

In yet another form, a system for use in repairing a soft tissue or bonedefect is provided according to the teachings of the present disclosure.The system can include a combined sizing and drill guide, a drill bit, aretaining member and a reaming device. The combined sizing and drillguide can be adapted to be positioned relative to a trochlear groove ofa femur. The guide can include a body having a bone engaging side and anopposite side, first and second guide holes extending through the body,and first and second cannulated guide members extending from theopposite side and aligning with the respective first and second guideholes. The bone engaging side can include a profile adapted to bepositioned in the trochlear groove and the first and second guide holesand corresponding guide members can include respective first and secondaxes that are orientated at an acute angle relative to each other. Thedrill bit can be configured to be guided by the first and second guideholes and corresponding guide members to form first and second bores inthe femur. The retaining member can be configured to be positioned inone of the first and second guide holes and corresponding guide membersand can be adapted to be positioned in the corresponding bore formed inthe femur. The reaming device can include a bone engaging end having abody with a first cutting portion, a second cutting portion and a guidemember extending axially from the first cutting portion. The firstcutting portion can have a smaller diameter than the second cuttingportion and can be axially spaced apart therefrom so as to be adapted toform a stepped pocket in the femur, where the guide member can beadapted to be positioned in the first and second bores.

In still another form, a method for repairing a soft tissue or bonedefect is provided according to the teachings of the present disclosure.The method can include selecting a combined sizing and drill guidehaving a bone engaging profile sized and shaped to mate with a trochleargroove of a patient. The combined sizing and drill guide can be selectedfrom a plurality of sizing and drill guides having different boneengaging side profiles. The selected guide can be positioned relative tothe trochlear groove of the femur. A superior guide bore can be formedin the femur by guiding a cutting device relative to a superior guidehole and cannulated guide member of the combined sizing and drill guide,and an inferior guide bore can be formed in the femur by guiding thecutting device relative to an inferior guide hole and cannulated guidemember of the guide. The combined sizing and drill guide can be removedfrom the femur. A superior stepped pocket portion can be formed in thefemur by guiding a reaming device relative to and using the superiorguide bore, and an inferior stepped pocket portion can be formed in thefemur by guiding the reaming device relative to and using the inferiorguide bore. The superior and inferior stepped pocket portions can form astepped trochlear groove pocket in the femur. A selected femoral implantcan be positioned in the trochlear groove pocket, where the selectedfemoral implant can correspond to the selected combined sizing and drillguide.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the descriptionprovided herein. The description and specific examples in this summaryare intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended tolimit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The present teachings will become more fully understood from thedetailed description, the appended claims and the following drawings.The drawings are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodimentsand not all possible limitations, and are not intended to limit thescope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view depicting an exemplary cartilage and/orbone defect in a trochlear groove of a femur in accordance with theteachings of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view depicting an exemplary surgical procedureincluding positioning an exemplary sizing drill guide relative to thetrochlear groove and defect in accordance with the teachings of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the sizing drill guide of FIG. 2 inaccordance with the teachings of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the exemplary procedure depictingpositioning guide pins relative to the sizing drill guide and the femurin accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a side view depicting an exemplary implant positioned relativeto a bone facing side of the sizing drill guide in accordance with theteachings of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6A is a side view of the exemplary implant of FIG. 5 in accordancewith the teachings of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6B is a rear perspective view of the implant of FIG. 5 inaccordance with the teachings of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6C is a front perspective view of the implant of FIG. 5 inaccordance with the teachings of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an exemplary drill bit or reamer inaccordance with the teachings of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the exemplary procedure depicting thedrill bit guided by the sizing drill guide to form a portion of a pocketin the femur in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of the exemplary procedure depicting anexemplary optional depth gauge positioned relative to the sizing drillguide and the defect in the femur in accordance with the teachings ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the exemplary procedure depicting apocket formed relative to the trochlear groove defect in the femur usingthe sizing drill guide and drill bit in accordance with the teachings ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the exemplary procedure depictingpositioning a femoral implant relative to the pocket in accordance withthe teachings of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view depicting an exemplary surgical procedureincluding positioning an exemplary sizing drill guide relative to thetrochlear groove and defect in accordance with the teachings of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of the exemplary sizing drill guideof FIG. 11 in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure;

FIG. 13 is a rear perspective view of the sizing drill guide of FIG. 12in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view depicting two different exemplary sizingdrill guides in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view depicting the exemplary implant of FIGS.5-6C positioned relative to a bone facing side of the sizing drill guideof FIG. 12 in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the exemplary procedure depicting adrill bit guided by the sizing drill guide to form a first bore in thefemur in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the exemplary procedure depicting aguide pin positioned in the first bore relative to the sizing drillguide and the drill bit guided by the sizing drill guide to form asecond bore in the femur in accordance with the teachings of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an exemplary drill bit or reamer inaccordance with the teachings of the present disclosure;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the exemplary procedure depicting thedrill bit guided by the first bore to form a portion of a pocket in thefemur in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the exemplary procedure depicting apocket formed relative to the trochlear groove defect in the femur inaccordance with the teachings of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is notintended to limit the present disclosure, its application, or uses. Itshould be understood that throughout the drawings, correspondingreference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.Although the following description is related generally to methods andsystems for repairing a cartilage defect in a femur, it should beappreciated that the methods and systems discussed herein can beapplicable to other bones and/or joints of the anatomy.

Exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will bethorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled inthe art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples ofspecific components, devices, systems and/or methods, to provide athorough understanding of exemplary embodiments of the presentdisclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatspecific details need not be employed, that exemplary embodiments may beembodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed tolimit the scope of the disclosure. In some exemplary embodiments,well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-knowntechnologies are not described in detail.

Turning now to FIGS. 1-20, various methods and systems are disclosed inaccordance with the present teachings for repairing a cartilage defect10 in a femur 14 of a knee joint. As will be discussed in greater detailbelow, pockets in the femur 14 can be formed using various sizing drillguides for receiving femoral or cartilage resurfacing implants. Inaccordance with various aspects of the present teachings, the pocket canbe formed relative to a defect in the trochlear groove 18 area of thefemur 14.

With particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the femur 14 is shown havingan exemplary defect 10 in the trochlear groove 18. It should beappreciated that the size and location of defect 10 can vary from thesize and position shown in FIG. 1. As can be seen in FIG. 2, a sizingdrill guide 22 can be positioned relative to the defect 10 and trochleargroove 18. As will be discussed in greater detail below, sizing drillguide 22 can be used to determine an appropriate size and location for afemoral implant 28 (e.g., FIGS. 6A-6C).

With additional reference to FIGS. 2-5, sizing drill guide 22 caninclude a first or bone engaging side or surface 34 and an oppositesecond side 38. The bone engaging surface 34 can include an arcuateshape to match a contour of the trochlear groove 18 and the adjacentcondyles 42. The arcuate shape can be arcuate in both theanterior-posterior plane and the medial-lateral plane. In one exemplaryaspect, the arcuate shape can be concave in the anterior-posterior planeand convex in the medial-lateral plane. The bone engaging side 34 caninclude an upper or superior end 48, an opposite lower or inferior end52 and opposed lateral sides 56. In the exemplary configuration shown inFIG. 3, the bone engaging side 34 can include an arcuate shape orprofile 60 in the superior-inferior direction and an arcuate shape orprofile 64 in a medial-lateral direction forming an outer perimeter 68of bone engaging side 34 relative to the superior and inferior ends 48,52. In one exemplary aspect, the bone engaging side 34 can include anoverall profile 72 that is complimentary or a negative of an articularsurface 78 of the femoral implant 28, as generally shown in FIG. 5 withreference to FIG. 6C.

In one exemplary aspect, sizing drill guide 22 can be provided in a sethaving a variety of different sizes that correspond to a variety ofcorrespondingly sized femoral implants so as to best match the size ofthe patient's cartilage defect and the anatomical configuration of thepatient's trochlear groove. For example, sizing drill guide 22 can beprovided in various different sized footprints having varying lengthsand/or widths, as well as various different shaped profiles 64 for eachsuch varying footprint size of guide 22. One example of such a varyingprofile or arcuate shape 64 is shown in FIG. 15 with reference to asizing drill guide 422. As can be seen in FIG. 14, sizing drill guide422A includes a first profile or arcuate shape 64A having a smallerradius of curvature for a smaller knee and sizing drill guide 422B has asecond profile or arcuate shape 64B having a larger radius of curvaturefor a larger knee while each of guides 422A, 422B can include the sameoverall footprint or perimeter size.

According to various aspects of the present teachings, the variousdifferent sizes and profiles of sizing drill guide 22 can be based ondata generated from scans of various non-patient human knees. In oneexemplary aspect, approximately 1500 scans of such knees can be used togenerate the data for sizing drill guides 22. In this aspect, the sizingdrill guide 22 can be provided in two distinct footprint sizes witheight unique profiles 64 of bone engaging side 34 for each size thatsubstantially replicate the anatomic trochlear groove for both the leftand right knees. The femoral implant 28 can be provided in each of thevarious sizes and profiles discussed above such that the articularsurface 78 can closely mimic the natural anatomy of the patient's kneewithout having to measure any portion of the patient's knee.

The sizing drill guide 22 can include an upper or superior cylindricalguide hole 86 and a lower or inferior cylindrical guide hole 90, eachsized and shaped to receive a reamer for forming an implant receivingpocket in the distal end of femur 14, as will be discussed below. Thesecond side 38 of sizing drill guide 22 can include an upper or superiorsurface 94 surrounding or substantially surrounding superior guide hole86 and an inferior surface 98 surrounding or substantially surroundingguide hole 90. In the exemplary configuration illustrated, the surfaces94, 98 can be planar surfaces configured to receive or engage a stopcollar, as will also be discussed below. The superior and inferior guideholes 86, 90 can be positioned at an acute angle relative to each otheras shown for example in FIGS. 4 and 5. Similarly, the surroundingsurfaces 94, 98 can be angled relative to each other and perpendicularor substantially perpendicular to an axis 100 (FIG. 4) of the respectiveguide holes 86, 90. The axes 100 can be angled at an acute anglerelative to each other.

In accordance with various aspects of the present teachings, the guideholes 86, 90 can be spaced apart from each other on the second side 38while overlapping on the bone engaging side 34, as shown for example inFIGS. 3 and 4. In one exemplary aspect, the guide holes 86, 90 canoverlap at an interior point 102 such that each of the guide holes 86,90 can be truncated. In particular, an inferior portion 104 of superiorguide hole 86 can be truncated and a superior portion 106 of inferiorguide hole 90 can be truncated, as shown in FIG. 3. In other words, eachof the guide holes 86, 90 can be truncated by each other on the boneengaging side 34. As will be discussed in greater detail below, such atruncated configuration of guide holes 86, 90 can form an overlapping ortruncated bore pattern in a pocket formed in the femur 14.

A pair of bores 112 can be positioned on opposite lateral sides of eachguide hole 86, 90, as shown for example in FIGS. 2-4. Bores 112 canreceive guide pins, as will be discussed below in greater detail. Inthis regard, it should be appreciated that more or less bores 112 can beprovided in sizing drill guide 22. For example, one guide bore 112 canbe positioned relative to superior guide hole 86, such as in an uppermedial side location, and one other guide bore 112 can be positionedrelative to inferior guide hole 90, such as in a lower lateral location.Regardless, in the exemplary configuration illustrated with four guidebores 112, it should be appreciated that less than all of the guidebores 112 may be utilized in an associated surgical procedure.

Once an appropriate sizing drill guide 22 has been selected that has asize corresponding to the size of defect 10 or that best matches withthe size of the defect 10 and a bone engaging side overall profile 72that corresponds to the anatomical configuration of the trochlear groove18, the bone engaging side 34 can be positioned over defect 10 such thatthe profiles 64 nest in trochlear groove 18, as shown for example inFIGS. 2 and 4. With the sizing drill guide 22 positioned as discussedabove, a retaining member or guide pin 114, such as a K-wire with athreaded distal tip, can be inserted into each of the guide bores 112and into the femur to fix the position of sizing drill guide 22 to thefemur 14 about defect 10. As discussed above, one or two guide pins 114can be positioned in each of the pair of guide bores 112 such that atleast one guide pin 114 is positioned relative to each of the superiorand inferior guide holes 86, 90.

With the sizing drill guide 22 selected and positioned relative to thetrochlear groove 18 and defect 10 as discussed above, the sizing drillguide can now serve as a drill guide to form a pocket for receiving thefemoral implant 28 corresponding to the selected guide 22. As will bediscussed in greater detail below, a reamer can be guided by guide holes86, 90 to form portions of a pocket formed to receive femoral implant28.

With additional reference to FIGS. 7-9, a reamer 122 can be guided byguide holes 86, 90 to form portions of the femoral or trochlear pocket126 (FIG. 9) for receiving femoral implant 28. The reamer 122 caninclude a first or distal bone engaging end 130 and an opposite secondor proximal driving end 134 configured to be coupled to a driver, suchas a drill or other rotary driving instrument. The first end 130 caninclude a cutting, milling or reaming arrangement 138 including a firstcutting blade arrangement 144 and a second cutting blade arrangement148. As can be seen in FIG. 7, the first cutting blade arrangement 144can be concentric to and of a smaller diameter than the second cuttingblade arrangement 148. In addition, in the exemplary configurationillustrated, the first cutting blade arrangement 144 can be axiallyspaced apart from the second cutting blade arrangement 148 so as to forma stepped pocket configuration in trochlear pocket 126, as will bediscussed in greater detail below.

The first end 130 of reamer 122 can also include an outer or perimeterwall 154 complimentary in diameter to an inner diameter of the guideholes 86, 90 and of a sufficient axial length such that the first end130 can be slidably and rotatably received in and guided by the guideholes 86, 90. The reamer 122 can also include a depth control mechanism,such as a stop collar 160, as also shown in FIG. 7. The stop collar 160can be selectively axially slidable relative to a shaft 164 of reamer122 and can include a locking feature 170 configured to set a positionof the stop collar 160 along shaft 164 relative to the first end 130. Inone exemplary configuration, the locking feature 170 can include a pushbutton 174 configured to provide for adjustment and selective locking ofthe stop collar 160 axially along shaft 164. The shaft 164 can includeindicia, such as annular grooves 178, corresponding to predeterminedaxial positions for stop collar 160. These positions can correspond todifferent sizing drill guides 22, and thus to implants 28, such that theimplant can be implanted flush or substantially flush with thesurrounding articular cartilage of the femur. In one exemplaryconfiguration, the annular grooves 178 can each include a differentcolor that can be coordinated with relevant sizing drill guides 22 forease of use during a surgical procedure.

In use, reamer 122 can be separately positioned in each of guide holes86, 90 to form the stepped pocket configuration show in FIG. 9. In oneexemplary aspect of the present teachings, the bone engaging end 130 ofreamer 122 can be inserted first into the inferior guide hole 90 andadvanced relative to sizing drill guide 22 until the prepositioned stopcollar engages the inferior surface 98. With reference to FIG. 9, thisaction can form an inferior pocket portion 182 of the stepped trochlearpocket 126. In particular, the inferior pocket portion 182 of steppedtrochlear pocket 126 formed by this action can include an inferior outerbore 186 and an inferior inner bore 190 corresponding to the respectivefirst and second cutting blade arrangements 144, 148. As can be seen inFIG. 9, the inferior inner bore 190 is formed at a greater depth thanthe inferior outer bore 186 relative to the articular surface of thefemur 14 and includes a smaller diameter than inferior outer bore 186.

Upon forming the inferior pocket portion 182, the reamer 122 can beremoved from the inferior guide hole 90 and positioned in the superiorguide hole 86 while the sizing drill guide 22 remains secured to thefemur 14. In a similar manner to the inferior guide hole 90, the boneengaging end 130 of reamer 122 can be advanced relative to guide hole 86to ream a superior pocket portion 198 of trochlear pocket 126 relativeto trochlear groove 18. The superior pocket portion 198 can likewiseinclude a superior outer bore 202 and a superior inner bore 206 axiallyspaced apart from and smaller than superior outer bore 202, as shown inFIG. 9. The superior bores 202, 206 can be concentric bores having astepped configuration that forms a shoulder orthogonal to an axis of thebores. Similarly, the inferior bores 186, 190 can be concentric boreshaving a stepped configuration that forms a shoulder orthogonal to anaxis of the bores.

As can be seen in FIG. 9, the trochlear pocket 126 can include portionsof the superior pocket portion 198 overlapping with portions of theinferior pocket portion 182. In particular, an inferior portion 212 ofthe superior outer and inner bores 202, 206 can overlap with a superiorportion 216 of the inferior outer and inner bores 186, 190. As can alsobe seen in FIG. 9, the superior outer and inner bores 202, 206 can formrespective parallel planar surfaces 222, 226 that are angled relative tocorresponding respective planar parallel surfaces 230, 234 of theinferior outer and inner bores 186, 190. In one exemplary configuration,the angle can be an acute angle. The planar surfaces 222 and 230 canmeet forming an edge 236 and the planar surfaces 226, 234 can meetforming an edge 238, as also shown in FIG. 9.

Once the inferior and superior pocket portions 182, 198 have beenformed, the reamer 122 can be removed from sizing drill guide 22 and thesizing drill guide 22 can be removed from the femur 14. To remove sizingdrill guide 22 from femur 14, the inferior two guide pins 114 can beremoved while maintaining the superior two guide pins 114 secured to thefemur 14. By maintaining the two superior guide pins 114 connected tothe femur 14 in their original position, the sizing drill guide 22 canbe removed and, if necessary, repositioned on the femur and trochleargroove in the same original position through use of the superior guidepins 114.

With particular reference to FIG. 8A, an option depth gauge 242 can beused in the surgical technique. Optional depth gauge 242 can be used invarious instances, such as with a universal reamer not including a stopcollar and/or a universal sizing drill guide that may not include aplurality of sizing options. Depth gauge 242 can include a body 246having an outer dimension greater than an inner diameter of the guideholes 86, 90 such that it can rest on the superior and inferior surfaces94, 98, as generally shown in FIG. 8A. In one exemplary configuration,body 246 can be in the form of an annular ring or collar 252 with athrough bore 256 configured to receive a depth member 260. The depthmember 260 can be advanced or retracted relative to body 246 via bore256 and held in a desired position via a locking arrangement 264.

In operation, depth gauge 242 can be placed on one of the sizing guidesurfaces, such as superior guide hole surface 94 shown in FIG. 8A. Thedepth member 260 can be advanced into guide hole 86 until it engages aportion of the trochlear groove 18. The position of depth member 260relative to body 246 can be maintained via locking arrangement 264 andcan correspond to a depth measurement for reaming the superior pocketportion of trochlear pocket 126 with a reamer after removal of the depthgauge 242 from guide 22.

With reference back to FIG. 9, once the trochlear pocket 126 has beenformed as discussed above, corners 274 of the trochlear pocket 126 canbe removed to form linear or straight sides 278 (shown in phantom). Inparticular, the straight sides 278 can be formed on the lateral sides oftrochlear pocket 126 and substantially in the areas of overlap betweenthe inferior and superior pocket portions 182, 198. Once the corners 274are removed, the trochlear pocket 126 can include an outer pocket 286with a first outer perimeter 290 corresponding to the outer bores 186,202 and outer straight sides 278 and an inner pocket 294 with a secondouter perimeter 298 corresponding to inner bores 190, 206 and innerstraight sides 278.

Turning now to FIGS. 6A-6C, and with additional reference to FIGS. 9-10,preparation for and implantation of the femoral or trochlear grooveimplant 28 will now be discussed in greater detail. Femoral implant 28can include a bone engaging side 306 and an opposite articular surfaceside 310. The articular surface side 310 can correspond to the boneengaging end 130 of sizing drill guide 22 such that upon implantation,articular surface 78 can be flush with the surrounding articularcartilage of femur 14 and mimic the natural geometry of the patient'strochlear groove area 18.

The bone engaging side 306 can include a first superior surface 318 anda first inferior surface 322 that are sized and shaped to correspondwith the planar surfaces 222, 230 of the respective superior andinferior outer bores 202, 186, as shown for example in FIG. 6B. Implant28 can include an outer perimeter 314 establishing an outer boundary ofthe surfaces 318, 322 and sized and shaped to match the first outerperimeter 290 of trochlear pocket 126. The surfaces 318, 322 can includeplanar surfaces and can meet at an edge 328 corresponding to edge 236 ofouter pocket 286.

A projection 332 can extend from surfaces 318, 322 and can be sized andshaped to be received in the inner pocket 294. Projection 332 caninclude a second superior surface 336 and a second inferior surface 340that can form a second outer perimeter 344 sized and shaped to match thesecond outer perimeter 298 of inner pocket 294. Similar to the surfaces318, 322, the surfaces 336, 340 can be planar surfaces angled relativeto each other and meeting at an edge 348 corresponding to edge 238 ofinner pocket 294.

With continuing reference to FIGS. 6A-6C and 9-10, once the trochlearpocket 126 is formed with the sides 278, a trial corresponding to theselected sizing drill guide can be positioned in the trochlear pocket126 to check for proper fit. If the trial does not fit flush with thesurrounding articular cartilage and/or does not align flush with theplanar surfaces 222, 226, 230 and 234, adjustment of the pocket 126 maybe required. In this scenario, additional rasping may be required and/orthe selected sizing drill guide 22 may be repositioned over the superiorguide pins 114 to place guide 22 in the original location used to formguide holes 86, 90. If the selected sizing drill guide 22 isrepositioned for additional reaming, the stop collar 160 on reamer 122may be adjusted to provide for additional depth of pocket 126. Dependingon the adjustment that may be required for pocket 126, another sizingdrill guide 22 may be positioned over existing guide pins 114 and theprocedure discussed above repeated.

Once proper fit of the selected trial is established, the trial can beremoved and trochlear pocket 126 can be cleaned and prepared forimplantation of implant 28 sized to correspond to the selected sizingdrill guide 22. Bone cement can then be applied to the preparedtrochlear pocket 126 and/or the bone engaging side 306 of selectedimplant 28. With the bone cement appropriately applied, the selectedimplant 28 can be implanted into the prepared trochlear pocket 126 whileensuring that the articular surface 78 is flush with the surroundingnative cartilage, as shown for example in FIG. 10. It should beappreciated that implant 28 can alternatively be implanted without bonecement.

In the exemplary configuration illustrated, the bone engaging side 306of femoral implant 28, once implanted, can align with and engage thegeometry of the prepared trochlear pocket 126. For example, the firstsuperior and inferior surfaces 318, 322 of implant 28 can mate with thesurfaces 222, 230 of outer bores 202, 186. Similarly, the secondsuperior and inferior surfaces 336, 340 of projection 332 can mate withsurfaces 226, 234 of the superior and inferior inner bores 206, 190. Theedges 236, 238 of pocket 126 can likewise align with the edges 328, 348of implant 28.

Turning now to FIGS. 11-20, another exemplary system and procedure forforming trochlear pocket 126 for receiving a selected implant 28 willnow be discussed. As can be seen in FIG. 11, a sizing drill guide 422can be positioned relative to the defect 10 and trochlear groove 18.Similar to sizing drill guide 22 discussed above, sizing drill guide 422can be used to determine an appropriate size, profile and location forthe femoral implant 28 (e.g., FIGS. 6A-6C).

With additional reference to FIGS. 12-13, sizing drill guide 422 caninclude a first or bone engaging side or surface 434 and an oppositesecond side 438. The bone engaging surface 434 can include an arcuateshape and/or profile to match a contour of the trochlear groove 18 andthe adjacent condyles 42. The bone engaging side 434 can include anupper or superior end 448, an opposite lower or inferior end 452 andopposed lateral sides 456. In the exemplary configuration shown in FIG.13, the bone engaging side 434 can include an arcuate shape or profile60 in the superior-inferior direction and an arcuate shape or profile 64in a medial-lateral direction forming an outer perimeter 464 of boneengaging side 434 relative to the superior and inferior ends 448, 452.In one exemplary aspect, the bone engaging side 434 can include anoverall profile 72 that is complimentary or a negative of the articularsurface 78 of the femoral implant 28, as generally shown in FIG. 15.

In one exemplary aspect, sizing drill guide 422 can be provided in avariety of different sizes similar to sizing drill guide 22. Forexample, sizing drill guide 422 can be similarly provided in variousdifferent sized footprints having varying lengths and/or widths, as wellas various different shaped profiles 64 for each such varying footprintsize of guide 422. One example of such a varying profile or arcuateshape 64 is shown in FIG. 14 with reference to a sizing drill guide422A. As can be seen in FIG. 14, sizing drill guide 422A includes afirst profile or arcuate shape 64A having a smaller radius of curvaturefor a smaller knee and sizing drill guide 422B has a second profile orarcuate shape 64B having a larger radius of curvature for a larger kneewhile each of guides 422A, 422B can include the same overall footprintsize. In a similar manner as sizing drill guide 22, the variousdifferent sizes and profiles of sizing drill guide 422 can be based ondata generated from scans of various human knees.

The sizing drill guide 422 can include an upper or superior guide hole486 and a lower or inferior guide hole 490 (FIG. 13), each sized andshaped to receive a drill bit, as will be discussed below. A cannulatedguide member 468 can extend from each of the guide holes 486, 490. Thecannulated guide members 468 can be integrally formed with the sizingdrill guide 422 or can be separate components that can be coupledthereto, such as via threading. The cannulated guide members 468 alongwith the respective guide holes 486, 490 can be orientated at an acuteangle relative to each other, similar to sizing drill guide 22.

In the exemplary configuration illustrated, the sizing drill guide 422can include a webbing or waffle pattern 504 extending between the outerperimeter 464 and the guide holes 486, 490, as generally shown in FIG.13. Such a pattern 504 can provide structure to the sizing drill guidewhile also providing for visualization of the defect and/or trochleargroove area 18.

Once an appropriate sizing drill guide 422 has been selected that has asize corresponding to the size of defect 10 or that best matches withthe size of the defect 10 and a bone engaging side overall profile 72that corresponds to the anatomical configuration of the trochlear groove18, the bone engaging side 434 can be positioned over defect 10 suchthat the profiles 64 nest in trochlear groove 18, as shown for examplein FIGS. 1 and 16. With the sizing drill guide 422 positioned asdiscussed above, a cutting device, such as a drill bit 512 (FIG. 16) canbe inserted into each of the cannulated guide members 468 and respectiveguide holes 486, 490 and into the femur 14. While not particularly shownin the drawings, drill bit 512 can include a shoulder or collar to set adrill depth relative to the sizing guide 422.

In the exemplary configuration illustrated, drill bit 512 can beadvanced relative to the superior guide hole 486 and associated guidemember 468 and into the femur to form a superior guide bore 524 (FIG.19). The drill bit 512 can be removed and a guide pin 516 can bepositioned through the cannulated guide member 468 and guide hole 486and into bore 524 formed in femur 14. Guide pin 516 can temporarily fixthe location of the sizing drill guide 422 on the femur 14 relative tothe superior bore 524. With guide pin 516 in place, drill bit 512 can bepositioned in guide hole 490 and its associated guide member 468 todrill an inferior guide bore 528 (FIG. 19) in femur 14. Guide pin 516and sizing drill guide 422 can then be removed from femur 14.

With additional reference to FIGS. 18-20, a reamer 536 can be guided byformed guide bores 524, 528 to form portions of the femoral or trochlearpocket 126 (FIGS. 9 and 20). The reamer 536 can include a first ordistal bone engaging end 544 and an opposite second or proximal end (notshown) configured to be coupled to a driver, such as a drill or otherrotary driving instrument. The first end 544 can include a guide member548 and a cutting or reaming arrangement 556 that can be similar to thecutting or reaming arrangement 138 of reamer 122. The reamingarrangement 556 can include a first cutting blade arrangement 564 and asecond cutting blade arrangement 568. As can be seen in FIG. 18, thefirst cutting blade arrangement 564 can be concentric to and of asmaller diameter than the second blade cutting arrangement 568. Inaddition, in the exemplary configuration illustrated, the first cuttingblade arrangement 564 can be axially spaced apart from the secondcutting blade arrangement 568 so as to form the stepped pocketconfiguration of trochlear pocket 126 discussed above.

The bone engaging end 544 of reamer 536 can include the guide member 548configured to guide reamer 536 relative to formed bores 524, 528. In oneexemplary configuration, guide member 548 can project axially from adistal end 576 of first cutting blade arrangement 564 and can include aconical tip 580, as shown for example in FIG. 18. In the exemplaryconfiguration illustrated, guide member 548 can include a diametercomplimentary to the diameter of drill bit 512 and formed bores 524,528, such that the formed bores can serve as a guide for reamer 536 whenguide member 548 is positioned therein.

In use, reamer 536 can be separately positioned in each of formed bores524, 528 to form the stepped pocket configuration show in FIG. 20, whichcan be the same stepped pocket configuration shown in FIG. 9 except forthe formed bores 524, 528. In one exemplary aspect of the presentteachings, the bone engaging end 544 of reamer 122 can be separatelyinserted into formed bores 524, 528 and advanced relative to femur 14until depth indicia 588 on an outer body 592 is flush with thesurrounding tissue. With continuing reference to FIGS. 9 and 20, thisaction can form the superior and inferior pocket portions 198, 182 ofthe stepped trochlear pocket 126 with the resultant geometry discussedabove. Once the trochlear pocket 126 has been formed as discussed abovein connection with sizing drill guide 422, corners 274 of the trochlearpocket 126 can be removed in a similar manner as discussed above inconnection with the procedure related to sizing drill guide 22.

With continuing reference to FIG. 20 and reference back to FIGS. 6A-6C,once the trochlear pocket 126 is formed with sides 278, a trialcorresponding to the selected sizing drill guide 422 can be positionedin the trochlear pocket 126 to check for proper fit in the mannerdiscussed above. Once proper fit of the selected trial is established,the trial can be removed and trochlear pocket 126 can be cleaned andprepared for implantation of the corresponding implant 28 in a similarmanner as also discussed above.

While one or more specific examples have been described and illustrated,it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changesmay be made and equivalence may be substituted for elements thereofwithout departing from the scope of the present teachings as defined inthe claims. Furthermore, the mixing and matching of features, elementsand/or functions between various examples may be expressly contemplatedherein so that one skilled in the art would appreciate from the presentteachings that features, elements and/or functions of one example may beincorporated into another example as appropriate, unless describedotherwise above. Moreover, many modifications may be made to adapt aparticular situation or material to the present teachings withoutdeparting from the essential scope thereof.

1. A system for use in repairing a soft tissue or bone defect,comprising: a combined sizing and drill guide adapted to be positionedrelative to a trochlear groove of a femur, the guide including a bodyhaving a bone engaging side, an opposite side and defining first andsecond guide holes, wherein the bone engaging side includes a profileadapted to be positioned in the trochlear groove and the first andsecond guide holes include respective first and second axes that areorientated at an acute angle relative to each other; at least oneretaining member configured to be positioned in a retaining bore formedin the body, the retaining member adapted to selectively fix the guideto the femur; and a cutting device configured to be selectively guidedby the first and second guide holes, the cutting device including a boneengaging end having a body, a first cutting portion and a second cuttingportion, the first cutting portion having a smaller diameter than thesecond cutting portion and being axially spaced apart therefrom so as tobe adapted to form a stepped pocket in the femur, the body including anouter diameter portion sized to be complementary to an inner diameter ofthe first and second guide holes.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein theguide holes are spaced apart from each other on the opposite side andoverlap each other on the bone engaging side.
 3. The system of claim 2,wherein the guide holes include a superior guide hole and an inferiorguide hole, and wherein an inferior portion of the superior guide holeand a superior portion of the inferior guide hole overlap each other onthe bone engaging side such that each of the guide holes are truncated.4. The system of claim 2, further comprising a femoral implant, theimplant including a bone engaging side and an opposed articular surfaceside, the bone engaging side including a first perimeter forming anouter perimeter of the implant and a projection having a secondperimeter smaller than the first perimeter, each of the first and secondperimeters sized and shaped to be adapted to fit in the stepped pocketformed in the trochlear groove of the femur.
 5. The system of claim 4,wherein the articular surface of the femoral implant is sized and shapedto mate with a size and shape of the profile of the bone engaging sideof the combined sizing and drill guide.
 6. The system of claim 4,wherein the opposite side of the guide includes a superior surfacesubstantially perpendicular to the first axis and an inferior surfacesubstantially perpendicular to the second axis.
 7. The system of claim6, wherein the reamer includes a depth control device selectivelypositionable along a shaft of the reamer, the depth control devicehaving an engagement surface configured to selectively engage one of thesuperior and inferior surfaces to set a depth that the reamer can beadvanced relative to the guide and the femur.
 8. The system of claim 7,wherein the combined sizing and drill guide includes a plurality ofcombined sizing and drill guides each having a different bone engagingside profile and, wherein the femoral implant includes a correspondingplurality of femoral implants each having a different articular surfaceprofile corresponding to the respective bone engaging side profiles ofthe plurality of guides.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the articularsurface profile of each implant of the plurality of implants is anegative of the bone engaging profile of the corresponding guide of theplurality of guides.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first guidehole is a superior guide hole and the second guide hole is an inferiorguide hole positioned below the inferior guide hole when the guide ispositioned relative to the trochlear groove.
 11. The system of claim 10,wherein the at least one retaining member includes four retainingmembers, two of the retaining members positioned on lateral sides of thesuperior guide hole and two of the retaining members positioned onlateral sides of the inferior guide hole.
 12. The system of claim 1,wherein the retaining bore is the first guide hole.
 13. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the outer diameter portion is a guide member.
 14. Asystem for use in repairing a soft tissue or bone defect, comprising: acombined sizing and drill guide adapted to be positioned relative to atrochlear groove of a femur, the guide including a body having a boneengaging side and an opposite side, first and second guide holesextending through the body, and first and second cannulated guidemembers extending from the opposite side and aligning with therespective first and second guide holes, wherein the bone engaging sideincludes a profile adapted to be positioned in the trochlear groove andthe first and second guide holes and corresponding guide members includerespective first and second axes that are orientated at an acute anglerelative to each other; a drill bit configured to be guided by the firstand second guide holes and corresponding guide members to form first andsecond bores in the femur; a retaining member configured to bepositioned in one of the first and second guide holes and correspondingguide members and adapted to be positioned in the corresponding boreformed in the femur; and a reaming device including a bone engaging endhaving a body with a first cutting portion, a second cutting portion anda guide member extending axially from the first cutting portion, thefirst cutting portion having a smaller diameter than the second cuttingportion and being axially spaced apart therefrom so as to be adapted toform a stepped pocket in the femur, the guide member adapted to bepositioned in the first and second bores.
 15. The system of claim 14,further comprising a femoral implant, the implant including a boneengaging side and an articular surface side, the bone engaging sideincluding a first perimeter forming an outer perimeter of the implantand a projection having a second perimeter smaller than the firstperimeter, each of the first and second perimeters sized and shaped tobe adapted to fit in the stepped pocket formed in the trochlear grooveof the femur.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the articular surfaceof the femoral implant is sized and shaped to mate with a size and shapeof the profile of the bone engaging side of the combined sizing anddrill guide.
 17. The system of claim 14, wherein the guide member of thereamer includes a diameter sized to correspond to a diameter of thedrill bit such that the guide member is adapted to be received in andguided by the first and second bores to form the stepped pocket in thefemur.
 18. The system of claim 14, wherein the body of the guide memberincludes a waffle pattern interconnecting an outer perimeter of the bodywith the first and second guide holes, the waffle pattern adapted toprovide visual access to a defect in the trochlear groove.
 19. Thesystem of claim 14, wherein the combined sizing and drill guide includesa plurality of combined sizing and drill guides each having a differentbone engaging side profile and wherein the femoral implant includes acorresponding plurality of femoral implants each having a differentarticular surface profile corresponding to the respective bone engagingside profiles of the plurality of guides.
 20. The system of claim 19,wherein the articular surface profile of each implant of the pluralityof implants is a negative of the bone engaging profile of thecorresponding guide of the plurality of combined sizing and drillguides.